The Tamil Nadu government announced the State Film Awards for the years 2016 to 2022 on Thursday. The awards also honoured artists as part of the State Television Awards for the years 2014 to 2022. Among the winners, notables like Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi, Suriya, Arya, Vikram Prabhu, Karthi, and Parthiban took home the Best Actor awards, while, Nayanthara, Keerthy Suresh, Jyothika, Aparna Balamurali, Lijomol Jose and Sai Pallavi were named as Best Actors (Female).

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2016-2022

Winners for 2016

• Best Film (First Prize): Maanagaram
• Best Film (Second Prize): Puriyatha Puthir
• Best Film (Third Prize): Maaveeran Kittu
• Best Film (Special Prize): Manusangada
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Aruvi
• Best Actor: Vijay Sethupathi (Puriyatha Puthir)
• Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh (Paambu Sattai)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): S Guru Somasundaram (Joker)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Aditi Balan (Aruvi)
• Best Villain: Rahman (Oru Mugathirai)
• Best Comedy Actor: Robo Shankar (posthomous) (Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran)
• Best Comedy Actress: Madhumitha (Kaashmora)
• Best Supporting Actor: R Parthiban (Maaveeran Kittu)
• Best Supporting Actress: Manisha Yadav (Oru Kuppai Kathai)
• Best Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj (Maanagaram)
• Best Music Director: Sam CS (Puriyatha Puthir)
• Best Lyricist: Madhan Karky (`Naan Un` from 24)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Velmurugan (Oru Kuppai Kathai)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran)
• Best Cinematographer: Balasubramaniem (Kathakali)
• Best Editor: Kasi Viswanathan (Maaveeran Kittu)
• Best Art Director: John Britto (Ilami)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Anbariv (Kaashmora/24)

Winners for 2017

• Best Film (First Prize): Aramm
• Best Film (Second Prize): Vikram Vedha
• Best Film (Third Prize): Taramani
• Best Film (Special Prize): To Let
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Dharmadurai
• Best Actor: Karthi (Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
• Best Actress: Nayanthara (Aramm)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): Santhosh Sreeram (To Let)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Andrea Jeremiah (Taramani)
• Best Villain: Prasanna (Thiruttu Payale 2)
• Best Comedy Actor: Bala Saravanan (En Aaloda Seruppa Kaanom)
• Best Comedy Actress: Urvashi (Magalir Mattum)
• Best Supporting Actor: Bose Venkat (Kavan/Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
• Best Supporting Actress: Sunu Lakshmi (Aramm)
• Best Director: Pushkar-Gayathri (Vikram Vedha)
• Best Music Director: Hip Hop Thamizhaa (Kavan)
• Best Lyricist: Vivek (`Theeran Da` from Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Sathyaprakash (Thiruttu Payale 2)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Shakthisree Gopalan (Vikram Vedha)
• Best Cinematographer: P Chelladurai (Thiruttu Payale 2)
• Best Editor: A Raja Mohammad (Thiruttu Payale 2/Veeraiyan)
• Best Art Director: AK Muthu (Andava Kaanom)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Dhilip Subbarayan (Vikram Vedha/Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)

Winners for 2018

• Best Film (First Prize): Pariyerum Perumal
• Best Film (Second Prize): Kadaikutty Singam
• Best Film (Third Prize): 96
• Best Film (Special Prize): Seethakaathi
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Kanaa
• Best Actor: Dhanush (Vada Chennai)
• Best Actress: Jyothika (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): Vishnu Vishal (Ratsasan)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Aishwarya Rajesh (Kanaa/Vada Chennai)
• Best Villain: Samuthirakani (Vada Chennai)
• Best Comedy Actor: Yogi Babu (Mohini)
• Best Comedy Actress: Devadarshini (96)
• Best Supporting Actor: Ameer (Vada Chennai)
• Best Supporting Actress: Viji Chandrasekhar (Kadaikutty Singam)
• Best Director: Mari Selvaraj (Pariyerum Perumal)
• Best Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan (Vada Chennai)
• Best Lyricist: Thiyagarajan Kumararaja (Seethakaathi)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Sid Sriram (Multiple Films)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Aaradhana Sivakarthikeyan (Kanaa)
• Best Cinematographer: R Velraj (Kadaikutty Singam/Vada Chennai)
• Best Editor: San Lokesh (Ratsasan)
• Best Art Director: Vinoth Rajkumar (Seethakaathi)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Supreme Sundar (Goli Soda 2)

Winners for 2019

• Best Film (First Prize): Asuran
• Best Film (Second Prize): Oththa Seruppu Size 7
• Best Film (Third Prize): Comali
• Best Film (Special Prize): KD Engira Karuppudurai
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Pon Magal Vandhal
• Best Actor: R Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7)
• Best Actress: Manju Warrier (Asuran)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): Karthi (Kaithi)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Indhuja (Magamuni)
• Best Villain: Arjun Das (Kaithi)
• Best Comedy Actor: Karunakaran (Monster)
• Best Comedy Actress: Kovai Sarala (Kanchana-3)
• Best Supporting Actor: Prakash Raj (Asuran)
• Best Supporting Actress: Sriranjani (House Owner)
• Best Director: R Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7)
• Best Music Director: Thaman (Magamuni)
• Best Lyricist: Kabilan (NGK)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Haricharan (Multiple Films)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Saindhavi (Asuran)
• Best Cinematographer: Theni Easwar (Peranbu)
• Best Editor: R Sudharsan (Oththa Seruppu Size 7)
• Best Art Director: CS Balachandran (Dharma Prabhu)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Anbariv (Kaithi)

Winners for 2020

• Best Film (First Prize): Koozhangal
• Best Film (Second Prize): Soorarai Pottru
• Best Film (Third Prize): Sandakari
• Best Film (Special Prize): Thaen
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Kamali From Nadukkaveri
• Best Actor: Suriya (Soorarai Pottru)
• Best Actress: Aparna Balamurali (Soorarai Pottru)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): Tharun Kumar (Thaen)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Abernathy (Thaen)
• Best Villain: Nanda (Vaanam Kottattum)
• Best Comedy Actor: Rakshan (Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithal)
• Best Comedy Actress: Nil
• Best Supporting Actor: Karunaas (Soorarai Pottru)
• Best Supporting Actress: Vadivukkarasai (Jananayagam Virpanaikku Alla)
• Best Director: Sudha Kongara (Soorarai Pottru)
• Best Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar (Soorarai Pottru)
• Best Lyricist: Thamarai (Thaainilam)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Amrish (Sandakari)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Varsha Ranjith (Thaainilam)
• Best Cinematographer: NK Ekambaram (Ka Pae Ranasingam)
• Best Editor: Lawrence Kishore (Thaen)
• Best Art Director: Iyyappan (Sandakari)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Super Subbarayan (Chasing)

Winners for 2021

• Best Film (First Prize): Jai Bhim
• Best Film (Second Prize): Kadaisi Vivasayi
• Best Film (Third Prize): Karnan
• Best Film (Special Prize): Rs 2000
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Netrikann
• Best Actor: Arya (Sarpatta Parambarai)
• Best Actress: Lijomol Jose (Jai Bhim)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): Pasupathy (Sarpatta Parambarai)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Amrutha Srinivasan (Irudhi Pakkam)
• Best Villain: Thamizh (Jai Bhim)
• Best Comedy Actor: Yogi Babu (Doctor)
• Best Comedy Actress: Madhumitha (Varisi)
• Best Supporting Actor: K Manikandan (Jai Bhim)
• Best Supporting Actress: Dr Raichal Rebecca (Kadaisi Vivasayi)
• Best Director: Tha Se Gnanavel (Jai Bhim)
• Best Music Director: Sean Roldan (Jai Bhim)
• Best Lyricist: Thamarai (Maara)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Arivu (Jai Bhim)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Bhavatharini (Maamanithan)
• Best Cinematographer: Richard M Nathan (Maanaadu)
• Best Editor: Praveen (Maanaadu)
• Best Art Director: T Ramalingam (Karnan)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Mahesh Mathew (Kodiyil Oruvan)

Winners for 2022

• Best Film (First Prize): Gargi
• Best Film (Second Prize): Taanakkaran
• Best Film (Third Prize): Witness
• Best Film (Special Prize): Iravin Nizhal
• Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Aval Appadithan 2
• Best Actor: Vikram Prabhu (Taanakkaran)
• Best Actress: Sai Pallavi (Gargi)
• Best Actor (Special Prize): Appukutty (Vazhga Vivasaayi)
• Best Actress (Special Prize): Dushara Vijayan (Natchathram Nagargiradhu)
• Best Villain: Prakash Raj (Viruman)
• Best Comedy Actor: Robo Shankar (posthomous) (Iravin Nizhal)
• Best Comedy Actress: Indraja Shankar (Viruman)
• Best Supporting Actor: Bose Venkat (Taanakkaran)
• Best Supporting Actress: Vasundhara (Vazhga Vivasaayi)
• Best Director: Gautham Ramachandran (Gargi)
• Best Music Director: AR Rahman (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
• Best Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
• Best Playback Singer (Male): Haricharan (Iravin Nizhal)
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Khatija Rahman (Iravin Nizhal)
• Best Cinematographer: R Arthur Wilson (Iravin Nizhal)
• Best Editor: Suresh Urs (Ulagammai)
• Best Art Director: Thota Tharani (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
• Best Stunt Coordinator: Anl Arasu (Viruman)

About the awards

The awards recognise the outstanding contributions to Tamil cinema across seven yearsm honouring excellence in acting, direction, music, and filmmaking. Apart from the recognition, the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards also reward monetary prizes to honour their achievement. Each of the awards includes a gold medal weighing one sovereign, a commemorative memento, and an official certificate. The Best Film (First Prize) is awarded by a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh, while, films receiving the runner-up prize are awarded Rs 1 lakh. The third priscarries a cash prize of Rs 75,000.